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Autism Speaks Joins the Missouri Autism Community In Applauding State Senate Members for Passing Autism Insurance Legislation

Missouri Senate Bill 167 Passed on Senate Floor

NEW YORK, NY (April 23, 2009) -- Autism Speaks today joined Missouri families and other autism advocacy organizations in applauding the members of the State Senate for passing Assembly Bill 167, which requires insurance companies to provide coverage of evidence-based, medically necessary autism therapies. The bill now heads to the State House for further action.

The Missouri Senate bill requires insurers to cover up to $55,000 annually for a child with autism under the age of 15 specifically for Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy, which is recognized as an effective, evidence-based treatment for children with autism. SB 167 was sponsored in the State Senate by Senator Scott B. Rupp (R-2).

“Autism Speaks applauds the members of the Missouri State Senate for their passing Senate Bill 167 and extending a helping hand to families that have been financially devastated by the lack of insurance coverage for necessary autism therapies,” said Elizabeth Emken, Autism Speaks Vice President of Government Relations. “We now call on the members of the state House to follow suit and pass their bill, House Bill 357 as well, allowing Missouri to join the ranks of states that have recognized the unfair and unreasonable burden being imposed on families of children with autism.”

In many states, insurers explicitly exclude coverage of these therapies from policies, which places a significant financial burden on families seeking to provide their children with necessary services. Ten states – Arizona, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Montana, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and Texas – have passed similar autism insurance reform bills. Twenty-six states have introduced bills this year.

Comments:

Anonymous @ 5/15/2009 1:54:24 AM

What about relationship based therapies? Does the bill include these therapies? This is such a crucial component for children on the autism spectrum. I am hoping the relationship-based play, verbal therapies are included in this bill as well as ABA. Every child has different needs and ABA is not for every child with autism. I feel ABA can be helpful for some, but relationship-based play therapy for social communication is imperative for these children and a combination of both therapies would be ideal. My 7 year old son is non-verbal yet high functioning and would benefit from a combination of both. I must emphasize how much progress he has made from relationship based therapies. I am a speech-language pathologist and feel strongly about combining the ABA therapies with relationship based therapies to increase spontaneous social communication skills otherwise these children often have good academic skills from the ABA but their spontaneous social skills are limited. I know verbal

Anonymous @ 5/12/2009 3:52:17 PM

Why only up to 15 years old? These kids grow up and what then. My son is 12 and I other families with older children. What are you supposed to do with them then? Are you just supposed to give up because they reach a certain age. I know that it has to start somewhere but I get tired of my child not getting any help because he over the age limit. When my son was diagnosed 10 years ago, I was told he can't have autism, he is potty trained. I am glad it is better for parents now but we still can't forget about the older ones.

Anonymous @ 5/7/2009 8:44:49 PM

This is great news! Lets pray for an equal decision in the House. My daughter Mya is 4 1/2 yrs. old and cannot talk. She cumpulsively opens and closes doors and gets aggresive and hits. She needs ABA in order to learn just like a visually impaired person needs glasses. It is very expensive for us, which leads to stress in the household, which leads to failed marriages, which leads to...and so on. Children with Autism deserve to have ABA therapy. It helps them to learn, to focus, to finish a task and not get fixated on one thing (like closing doors and pinching her skin). Google ABA therapy and you will find studies and statistics that prove it's effectiveness in helping these children learn. Please, Please, Please. I want to one day hear her talk...to say "Mommy" and be able to express her needs to us. Thank you, and God bless. Amanda & Mya Williams

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